Craig Kimbrel Red Sox Nationals
Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Boston Red Sox pitches in the ninth inning for his 26th save during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on July 4, 2018 in Washington, DC. Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

The Philadelphia Phillies won the 2019 MLB offseason when they signed Bryce Harper to a record-setting contract. Not only did the team add their third All-Star of the winter, but they stole away one of their divisional rivals’ top players.

The Washington Nationals’ lineup will be hurt by the loss of Harper, but they might emerge from the winter with a much better team. Washington has already signed the No.1 free-agent starting pitcher in Patrick Corbin, and there’s a chance that they will acquire the best available reliever.

Rumors of Craig Kimbrel eventually going to Washington have been picking up steam ever since Harper agreed with Philadelphia. ESPN’s Buster Olney first said that rival evaluators saw the Nationals as a fit for Kimbrel, and The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported that the club was interested in adding the closer.

The latest update from The Athletic’s Brittany Ghiroli notes that Washington has a sincere interest in Kimbrel, but they are cautious about pursuing the veteran. The Nationals are approaching the $206 million luxury tax, and Kimbrel won’t come cheap.

Kimbrel reportedly began the offseason looking for a six-year contract worth at least $100 million. It’s become clear that the 30-year-old won’t get that kind of an offer. If he settles for a short-term contract, he will still command a lucrative salary.

The Nationals gave Corbin a six-year, $140 million contract. Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg are two of the highest-paid pitchers in baseball. Third baseman Anthony Rendon is a year away from free agency, and Washington is expected to give him a lucrative long-term deal.

If Washington doesn’t land Kimbrel, one of the top teams in the NL East might. The Atlanta Braves have been linked to the reliever for much of the offseason, as have the Phillies. Philadelphia remains a possibility for Kimbrel after committing $330 million to Harper, though it’s unknown how much deeper into their pockets they might be willing to go.

According to Rosenthal, the Braves are still only looking to ink Kimbrel to a short-term deal, which has been their stance all offseason. CBS Sports’ Jim Bowden has reported that the Minnesota Twins have been in contact with Kimbrel’s agent.

Kimbrel made the All-Star team in all three of his seasons with the Boston Red Sox, including a sixth-place finish in the 2017 AL Cy Young voting.

The Braves won the NL East in 2018. The Nationals have won three NL East titles in the last five years. The Phillies have the highest expectations of any team in the division after their offseason.

Perhaps one of them will blink and come closer to Kimbrel’s asking price as they all look for an edge with Opening Day only a few weeks away.

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